Apparatus for sterilizing container parts



May 15, 1934. G. STEERUP APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING CONTAINER PARTS FiledSept. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 15, 1934. STEERUP 1,958,449

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING CONTAINER PARTS Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EY 55 tion.

Patented May 15, 1934 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING CONTAINERPART Godfrey Steerup, Maywood, 111.,

assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application September 8, 1930, Serial No. 480,602

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for electricallysterilizing container parts and has more particular reference to anapparatus wherein there is utilized an improved form of electrical arehaving highly penetrating and bactericidal characteristics. Such an arcis described and set forth in my pending application on method ofproducing electrical disruptive discharges, filed in the United StatesPatent Ofice, October 11, 1930, Serial No. 488,141.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus for automatically subjecting container parts to the influenceof electrical disruptive discharges possessing improved bactericidalcharacteristics and utilizing such discharges for sterilizing treatment.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusfor continuously conveying container parts through an electricaldisruptive discharge zone of improved characteristics for sterilizingthe container part by subjecting it to the bombardment of the electricaldischarges.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusfor automatically controlling the amount and time interval and thelocation of electrical discharges used in a sterilizing chamber forsterilizing container parts.

The invention contemplates the maintenance of favorable arcingconditions in an apparatus which continually and automatically treatscontainer parts by subjecting them to the bactericidal action ofimproved sterilizing electrical discharges, having highly penetratinglight rays of short wave lengths of the ultraviolet region and evenshort wave lengths approaching the X-ray region. 7

The invention also contemplates the automatic regulation of a constantcharacteristic of moisture vapor for maintaining leakage paths betweenspaced electrodes of the apparatus for the purpose of automaticallyproducing improved electrical discharges utilized for impinging againstand. bombarding container parts con- 45 veyed through theapparatus.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is betterunderstood from the following description, which, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, discloses a 50 preferred embodimentthereof.

Referring to the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section,of an improved sterilization apparatus exemplifying the presentinvenpackaging Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially alongthe line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line3--3 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus prises a continuously moving conveyor for advancing acontainer part, herein illustrated as a container cover, beneath aseries of spaced electrodes located in a sterilizing chamber andconnected in suitable electrical ciruits for producing disruptivedischarges is obtained. The container part after passing through theapparatus and the sterilizing chamber is discharged in sterile conditionand may then be used in the of food products or for other purposes.While the sterilizing chamber is largely enclosed it is not sealed fromthe atmosphere.

The apparatus comprises a horizontal bed 21,".

having supporting side walls 22 and carried on legs 23. A conveyor,comprising an endless belt 24, moves over pulleys 25 and 26, carried onrespective shafts 2'7 and 28, journaled in bearings 29 and 31 formed inthe legs 23. The upper run of the belt 24 passes along the upper surfaceof the table 21 and withinagroove 34 formed therein. This conveyoradvances container parts, herein illustrated as can ends or covers 35,along its upper run and from the pulley 25 to the pulley 26.

During this travel, the container ends 35 pass through a sterilizingchamber 36 formed interiorly of triangular end walls 3'7 and 38 mountedupon and supported by the table21. Intermediate triangular frames '39are also supported upon the table 21 and these frames, together with theend walls 37 and 38, carry a top' rail 40 and support side members 41and 42 resting in grooves 43 and 44 formed in the table 21 and ingrooves 45 and 46'formed in the top rail. These side walls 41 and 42 arepreferably made of a transparent material, such as plate glass, whichforms an enclosure for the chamber 36 while permitting visual inspectionof the interior. The end walls 3'7 and 38, as well as the intermediateframe 39,

disclosed in the drawings com- 9 horizontal plane as the bars 61.

conductive material, as for example asbestos. a similar manner, the bussbars 62 are secured to are suitably raised along their bottom edges topermit passage of the can ends therebeneath, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The belt 24 is continually moved by rotation of the pulley 25. For thispurpose, the shaft 27 (Figs. 1 and 2) carries a worm gear 51 whichmeshes with a worm 52 formed on a horizontal drive shaft 53 journaledinbearings 54 projecting outwardly from one of the legs 23. The shaft 53may be driven in any suitable manner.

A series of horizontally disposed buss bars or heavy wires 61 (threebeing 'lustrated)" extend in parallel relationship and in a horizontalposi- .tion adjacent the bottom of the chamber 36. These buss bars aresupported'in openings formed in the frames 39, the latter'beingconstructed'of an electrical non-conducting material, such for exampleas asbestos. being illustrated) are similarly located adjacent thebottom of the chamber and in the same The different bars 61 and 62 arealternately. positioned, each bar 61 being located between and spacedfrom adjacent bars 62. There results, therefore, as illustrated, sixhorizontal buss bars in the bottompart of the sterilizing chamber 36,these bars being parallel and being spaced one from another in ahorizontal plane.

One end of each bar 61 (Fig. 2) is, secured to a connector rod 63 whichis bent at right angles 'to form an arm 64 carried by the Wall 37. Thiswall is also constructed of an electrically nona connector rod 65 whichis bent at right angles to form an arm 66 also carried by the wall 37.

The arm 64 is connected to a wire 71 which forms one lead of thesecondary circuit of a transformer '72. The opposite end of the windingof this secondary transformer circuit is connected by a wire 73 to thearm 66. The primary circuit of the transformer '72 comprises a wire '74connected to one end of the wiring of the primary side of thetransformer andthis wire leads to a circuit breaker or interrupter 75. Awire 77, leading from the interrupter 75, connects through a switch 76to one side of a source of electrical energy, designated as a generator'78. The opposite side of the generator is connected by a wire '79 tothe opposite side of the primary wiring of the transformer 72.

An electrical energy, generated by the generator '78, upon closing ofthe switch 76 and interrupter 75, flows through the interrupter and theprimary winding of the transformer '72 and causes (at certain periods)an induced secondary current, which passes along the bars 61 and 62. Thebuss bars 61 and 62 constitute electrodes which are spaced so far apartthat current will not ordinarily pass across the air gap between them,owing to its relatively high resistance.

Provision is made for completing this secondary circuit of thetransformer 72 and producing a spark jump between a bar 61 and anadjacent bar 62 by reducing this resistance, this being accomplished byintroducing a leakage path therebetween. The mechanism for obtainingthis result comprises a series of wick holders 81 having a center 82 ofabsorbent material, such as asbestos, which constitutes a wick for thereception of moisture. Each holder 81 rests on top of and extendsbetween a bar 61 and an adjacent bar 62,

'grooves 83 formed in the lower surface of the holder 81 fitting downover the bars and keeping the holders in proper position (Fig. 3).

Other buss bars 62 (three M These holders 81 are spaced, as illustratedin Fig. 2, to connect different bars 61 and 62 and are located indiiferent longitudinal positions along the bars so that the resultingelectrical discharges taking place along the leakage paths will come invarious positions, both longitudinally andtransversely as regards thetravel of the container end 35 as it moves therebeneath with thetraveling belt 24.

As soon as a spark is started along its leakage path at one of theholders 81, the moisture present in the arc is evaporated and it istherefore necessary to maintain a constant supply of moisture in thewicks 82 to effect subsequent discharges. This maintaining of themoisture is automatically controlled in' a simple manner as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 3.

A series of burettes 91 are located in slots 92 cut in one side of therail 40 and each burette is formed with an annular bead 93 above itscenter and this bead rests directly on the upper surface of the railthus forming a support for the burette. Each burette is so positioned asto have its discharge nozzle, designated by the numeral 94, directlyabove the center of one of the wicks 82.

Some of the burettes 91 are bent, as illustrated tric arcs.

By reason of the distributed positions of the wick holders 61 and theresulting arcs, each container end 35 is subjected to a series ofelectrical bombardments as it travels beneath the bars 61 and 62. All ofthe exposed surface of the end is thus treated to the bactericidalactions of the sev- "I15 eral electrical sparks or arcs and in this wayis thoroughly sterilized by the time it reaches the discharge end of theapparatus.

The improved electrical spark or are used in the present invention andproduced by the mech-Z= anism just described has a swift moving or highvelocity stream of electrons and a great quantity of effective energyand highly actinic light rays of different wave lengths. Such a spark orarc being spread out (increased spacially) by the'125 moisture leakagepath, is not attended with the intense heat ordinarily present in anelectrical spark or are and is, therefore, more desirable as asterilizing agent. In other words, it possesses increased effectivespacial limits.

The sterilized container end 35, when it passes over the pulley 26,falls by gravity off of the belt 24 and through an opening 97 formed inthe end of the table 21. It thereupon falls upon a discharge chute 98supported by a bracket 99 mounted on one of the legs 23 and slides outof the machine. Such a sterilized container end may then be used for anydesired purpose.

The circuit breakers 75 interrupt the flow of the primary current and,therefore, maintains the ex-' tages, the form hereinbefore describedbeing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:-

1. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising incombination, a conveyor for advancing the container parts through themachine, spaced electrodes mounted adjacent the path of travel of saidcontainer parts and connected in an electrical circuit, and means forcreating a leakage path near said path of travel and between saidelectrodes, said means including moisture vapor, whereby a flow ofelectrical energy passes from one electrode to the other along saidleakage path and produces arcs of increased ef fective spacial limitswhich impinge on said container parts as they are carried adjacent.

2. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising incombination, a conveyor for advancing the container parts through themachine, spaced electrodes mounted adjacent the path of travel of saidcontainer parts and connected in an electrical circuit, and means forproviding moisture vapor between said electrodes and near said path oftravel to produce a leakage path for the flow of electrical energytherebetween whereby the arcs produced impinge on said container partsfor sterilization thereof.

3. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising incombination, a sterilizing chamber, a conveyor advancing the containerparts through said sterilizing chamber, a source of electric force,spaced electrodes in the circuit of said force and mounted in saidchamber adjacent said conveyor, an electrically non-conducting wickmember interposed between said electrodes, and means for forming anelectrical leakage path in said wick member whereby an arc is enabled tobe produced having increased effective spacial limits which impingesupon and sterilizes the said container part.

4. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising incombination, a sterilizing chamber, a conveyor advancing the containerparts through said sterilizing chamber, a source of electric force,spaced electrodes in the circuit of said force and mounted in saidchamber adjacent said conveyor, electrically non-conducting wick membersinterposed between said electrodes, and means for supplying moisture tosaid wick members, whereby electrical arcs having increased effectivespacial limits are enabled to be produced in the moisture of said wickmembers for sterilizing said container parts.

5. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising thecombination of a sterilizing chamber, spaced electrodes located in saidchamber, means for creating a leakage path of less electrical resistancethan the resistance of the air between said electrodes, said meansincluding moisture vapor, and means for passing electrical energy alongsaid leakage path, whereby the arcs produced impinge on said containerparts for sterilization thereof.

6. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising thecombination of a sterilizing chamber, a plurality of elongated spacedelectrodes located in said chamber, wick members carried on saidelectrodes, and means for wetting said wick members to provideelectrical leakage paths, said wick members being arranged in difierentlongitudinal positions for locating electrical arcs formed by electricalenergy passing between said electrodes and across the leakage paths ofsaid Wick members.

7. An apparatus for sterilizing container parts, comprising thecombination of a sterilizing chamber, a plurality of elongated spacedelectrodes located in said chamber, wick members carried on saidelectrodes, means for wetting said wick members to provide electricalleakage paths, said wick members being arranged in differentlongitudinal positions for locating electrical arcs formed by electricalenergy passing between said electrodes and across the leakage paths ofsaid wick members, and means for advancing container parts adjacent toand longitudinally of said electrodes and through said chamber, wherebysaid container parts are passed through the arcing zones determined bysaid wick members and thereby sterilized.

GODFREY STEERUP.

